HC Deb 02 May 1940 vol 360 cc897-9
64. Mr. Dobbie

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, having regard to the widespread discontent at the present position, he will consider granting a minimum pension of 5s. per week to the parents who were in receipt of allotments from the Service pay of their late sons, who have lost their lives as a result of service in His Majesty's Forces?

Sir W. Womersley

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by me to the Question from the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Glenvil Hall) on 25th April, of which I am sending him a copy.

65. Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Keyes

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the naval separation allowance for the wife of a serving able seaman is 17s. per week, but that when the able seaman is killed in action the widow is given a pension of 15s. 6d. if she is under 40 years of age and childless; and whether he will consider increasing the basic rate of pensions to naval widows whose husbands are killed on service, or introduce a gratuity payable to all widows, in order to make immediate provision for the immediate future?

Sir W. Womersley

I would point out that the pension is an annuity payable during the whole period of widowhood, and the amount is therefore naturally determined by reference to other considerations than apply to a temporary grant during the husband's service. Provision is made for a widow's immediate future by the payment by the Admiralty for a period of 13 weeks, both of her marriage allowance and also of an amount equal to the qualifying allotment which her husband must have declared in order to obtain such allowance. Further, an amount equivalent to any allotment by the widow's husband in excess of the qualifying allotment is also continued for the first four weeks of that period.

Sir R. Keyes

Will my hon. Friend give further consideration to the question of a gratuity on the death of a man, bearing in mind the relief it will afford to the bereaved widow when she has something with which to carry on?

Sir W. Womersley

I am always prepared to give full consideration to any suggestion made.

Mr. Holdsworth

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the great dissatisfaction throughout the country with the fact that, when a woman loses her husband, she and her dependants receive less than they received when the soldier was serving? What is the reason? Can there be any logic in it? Why, after her tragic loss of her husband, should she suffer a financial loss as well?

67. Captain Sir Ian Fraser

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he can make any statement as to the Government's intention to raise the rates of disability pensions paid to Great War ex-service men to meet the rise in the cost of living?

Sir W. Womersley

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given by the Minister of Pensions in this House on 31st July, 1928, on the question of stabilisation of Great War pensions, a copy of which I am sending to him. It was then stated that, while the rates of those pensions would not be reduced, they would be liable to increase if the cost of living should ever exceed that of the year 1919, on which Great War pensions were fixed. That figure was 215 while the figure to-day is 178. The hon. Member will appreciate that there is at present no justification for increasing those rates.

Sir I. Fraser

May I ask my hon. Friend to bear in mind that this class of the community suffers a deprivation when the cost of living rises, that many of their sons are at the war and that they themselves, being disabled, cannot be employed at the higher rates which many other people are now receiving; and will he therefore give the matter further consideration?

68. Sir I. Fraser

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will amend the 1939 Royal Warrant so that it will not be more difficult for new ex-service men who claim that they are suffering from conditions attributable to, or aggravated by, war service to prove their case than it has been for Great War ex-service men under the 1919 Warrant; and whether he will provide independent tribunals to which the rejected claims of ex-service men for war pensions, etc., may be referred by way of appeal?

Sir W. Womersley

Both the matters referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend have been under discussion with my Statutory Advisory Committee, as a result of which I am at present considering the terms of the article of the Royal Warrant dealing with the first point. A general system of appeals to independent tribunals in war-time must, as I have explained to the House, present great difficulties of several kinds, but the Government will no doubt consider the question after the war, in the light of the conditions then prevailing. In the meantime, all appeals by rejected claimants are carefully considered, and, where suitable, referred to a panel of independent medical experts.

Mr. Buchanan

Will not the Minister agree to reconsider the last matter, in view of the fact that the person who is refused a pension has no appeal and no right to bring independent medical evidence before an independent body? Will not the Minister reconsider the matter now?

Sir W. Womersley

Such persons have a right of appeal to the Minister.

Sir I. Fraser

In particular reference to the independent medical appeal, which the Minister has suggested was possible, is it not a fact that those medical persons are paid by the Ministry? Will not the Minister consider, as an interim step, creating a really independent medical opinion?

Sir W. Womersley

The medical specialists are independent. They are nominated by the Royal College of Physicians or the Royal College of Surgeons. Although it is true that they are paid by the Ministry we have no power over these people at all and we never interfere with them.